Women’s Hockey 1960 GRADE WINNER BEATEN BY DIGBY’S

Press, Volume C, Issue 29507, 8 May 1961, Page 10

Women’s Hockey 1960 GRADE WINNER BEATEN BY DIGBY’S

Last year’s competition winner, Carlton, was narrowly beaten in a secondround game of the Canterbury women’s senior grade hockey on Saturday after-

The team which caused the upset was Digby’s, joint runner-up with Rawhiti last season. Although not as strong as usual. Digby’s played hard and deserved the win.

The grounds in Hagley Park were fast with firm, dry turf. The speed of play, however, appeared to be greatly the result of players’ determination to keep warm in a bitterly cold easterly rather than to play hockey of a standard that might impress anyone about to be nominated as a selector. Hinemoa. the Kaiapoi team which last year won the senior reserve competition, found enthusiasm no substitute for experience. In its game with Aranui it showed some combination that stopped short of the circle and there was a creditable lack of the bashing that spoiled the game between Digby's and Carlton. University was hard pressed to get in front of Rawhiti and stay there in a very fast game in which Hockey was played thought* fully. Pre-game predictions of a fairly comfortable University win were well astray and University was fortunate not to lose. Harewood had no trouble to beat a West Old Girls’ side. Of the eight teams in the senior grade competition, Harewood and University are the only two which remain unbeaten; in only two games the other six have all suffered at least one reverse. Results are:— University 1, Rawhiti 0. Hinemoa 2, Aranui 3. Digby’s 3, Carlton 3. Harewood 8, West Old Girts 1. West Old Girts v. Harewood Harewood improved on a 6-2 win in the first round of the competition by running over West Old Girls by eight goals to one. In the first half, it was West which did most of the attacking but its players could not finish off their movements. In the second half of a vigorous game a West defence that held up remarkably well in view of the morale-lowering score slowed down Harewood's rate of goaling. Harewood's over-all superiority could be attributed almost solely to team understanding, but the fast opportunism bordering on brilliance of the left-inner, H. Turner, was a telling factor. Two West players who distinguished themselves were the right wing, B. Withers, and the former New Zealand player. S. Cadogan, who normally plays at half but who stiffened the back line on the right on Saturday. At West’s right-half, A. Malins showed some promise, but was generally erratic and never appeared to settle down properly. This was her first game of the season after returning to the Dominion from

an overseas trip and she probably has yet to get back into her stride.

N. Powell (West) played a good game at left-back and had the edge on her opposite number.

With more possession of the ball gained by more accurate passing. Harewood came out on top and goals were scored by the left wing, N. Mathison (1), H. Turner (3). centreforward B. Turner (2) and right inside V. Watson (2). Cadogan scored West’s goal. Digby’s v. Carlton

Carlton, last year's competition winner, was beaten by one of its runners-up—Digby's—ln a game notable for incohesion rather than control. The speed shown by both teams was in inverse ratio to ball guidance and much of the hitting was aimless, players striking into the field without bothering to look if the ball was heading for a team-mate. Under such circumstances the term “interception" was flattering. Digby's reap defence seemed to be missing S. Woods in the centre-half position and in goal B. Makinson had some work to do. The fact that young Carlton players shot two balls past this former (1956) New Zealand representative should be encouragement for some of the girl hockey players in other teams who might be over-awed by the aura of invincibility that seems to float around topliners.

Trapping was poor in both teams, perhaps a reflection of the early stage of the competition, but on occasion it appeared that players did not have their minds on the game. In the University-Rawhitf match, for Instance, there was nothing relaxed on this aspect of play K, Cole. Canterbury’s captain

as well as Carlton’s, is twice the age of some of the players: but like the competent veteran she is, she can show some of her juniors the quickness off the mark and speed to seize opportunity that goes towards making a champion. Carlton's right wing. A. McDonald. scored a goal and so did the centre-forward, J. Thomson.

For Digby's goals were scored by H. Pickles, the left inside (2)1 and T. Tuhau, centre-forward. Aranui v. Hinemoa

Hinemoa was promoted from senior reserve at the end of last season and tn the first game of the present series was unlucky enough to draw a formidable Harewood side which had an easy win. Before the competition started, Hinemoa and Aranui had a friendly game and the result was a draw, 2-all. Tins score was repeated on Saturday. Hinemoa’s tally was assisted by a ball accidentally shot by an Aranui player into her own goal during a melee, but the teams were fairly evenly matched.

Aranui was slightly better in the second period and towards the end Increased the pace. It was unlucky not to win for its vigour pressed Aranui hard; its losing point was inability to finish off some fine moves when it had taken play to the circle.

G. Mayer, Aranui centre-for-ward, scored the first goal within 10 minutes of the game beginning; and S. Cowles (nee McCaw) goaled from her leftinside position later. Cowles played an outstanding forward I game and her placement of the ball high inside the wire net gave the keeper no chance.

For the last 20 minutes of the second half Aranui played one short, a member of the

team having to retire early. Hinemoa had had Aranui tied down for most of the time previously, however, and the shortage in Aranui strength should not detract from the superbness of Hinemoa’s sole intended goal. The Hinemoa right-wing, A. Giles, took the ball on the halfway line, zig-zagged through half the Aranui team in a fast dribble, avoiding at least three attempts to tackle her. and whipped it past the goalie's feet. She was in full control of the ball the whole time. University v. Rawhiti If this match had been played any more seriously it would have been dour, Yet it was a first-class game, although hardly likely to be viewed with great satisfaction by the more fancied University side who met opponents who came on the field to play the students' own game of short, controlled passing. University won. with a goal by the left-inside, K. McKerrow, in the first half, but it was not an easy win. The duel between two really good sets of forwards was exciting, although one wondered whether some of the bodily contact in a few clashes which resulted in tumbles was necessary. It was a fast, demanding tussle of representative standard, however. University had its hands tied and could not find a hole in Rawhiti for most of the game. One could not understand why University kept playing to the right throughout the second half. Each movement directed this way ran up against Rawhiti’s player-coach, N. Lennie, whose New Zealand representative experience was too much for the attackers each time. Move after move to the • right was competently blocked.

On the other hand, University could not be ashamed of its own defence. All the backs worked hard and the defence was not breached. There was one occasion, though, when the distance of one step meant the difference between a draw and a loss to Rawhiti. It was when M. Cowan left the University goalie standing with a magnificent bail slammed high into the wire. Unfortunately Cowan was one step over the circle.

Lower Grades Senior Reserve.—Aranui 4, Technical College 1; Technical College 4, Hornby 3; Shirley 3. Carlton B 0; Digby’s 2. Carlton 0. Second Grade.—Burnside 6. Training College 0; Cranrner 7, Carlton 0. Third Grade.—Avonslde beat Dental Nurses by default; Aranui 2, Pacific 1: W.C.C. 6, Carlton 0; University 1, Nurses 0; Harewood 5 West Christchurch 0. Fourth Grade.—Belfast 7. Bumside 0. Fifth Grade.—Rawhiti 8, West 1; Rangiora 2. Bumside 2: Hinemoa 5, Shirley 3. Sixth Grade.—Digby’s 2, Shirley 1; Technical 3. Hornby 1; Aranui 1. Harewood 0. Seventh Grade.—Belfast 2. Digby’s 0. Malvern Matches Results of matches played on Saturday in the Malvern Women’s Hockey Association’s competitions were:— Senior Grade. Halkett 9. Coalgate 2; Greendale 3. Sheffield 1: Kirwee 7. Darfleld 2. Junior Grade.—Kirwee 1. Darfield 0; Sheffield 4. Greendale 0: Halkett 7. Coalgate 0.